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Good conditions for beginners in impressive surroundings

The Kitzbühel ski area is one of the largest in all of Austria, with 60 runs and 53 lifts. Generally speaking, cheaper and more compact ski areas are more readily recommended for beginners. However, the numerous blue-rated runs in Kitzbühel make it an excellent option for learning to ski or snowboard in impressive surroundings. The Kinderland nursery area is the best place to start, located directly next to the valley station of the Hahnenkammbahn and therefore easy to reach from the car park. It is notable here that beginners can also use the practice lifts (magic carpet lifts) free-of-charge in Pass Thurn, Aschau and Rasmusleiten as well as in Mocking and Pulverturm. This goes some way to easing the pressure on the budget for beginners in comparatively exclusive and expensive Kitzbühel. Moreover, beginners’ ski passes and point tickets are also available.

Suitable slopes for beginners across the entire ski area

The blue-marked runs in Kitzbühel are well spread out over the entire ski area. The zone around the Pengelstein is particularly suitable in this respect, as it is home to a whole host of wide and simple groomers (nos. 16, 28, 29 and 30). This terrain is also enjoyable for intermediate learners who would like to give carving a try. There are also plenty of trails around Resterhöhe which can be circumnavigated by beginners. However, in this area, runs 72 and 73 also encompass flat sections which beginners may initially find difficult. These flat sections are relatively common in the Kitzbühel ski area, however some can be avoided with magic carpet lifts (e.g. in Märchenwald A6 and Starthaus A7). For anyone who does not feel up to taking a surface lift as yet, this sizeable ski area offers numerous chair lifts and cable cars as an alternative. There are also blue runs down into the valley to Kitzbühel (no. 20), Kirchberg (nos. 25, 26) and Skirast (nos. 27, 31), though Jochberg is not served by a straightforward valley run. Don’t be confused by the so-called “Familienstreif”, which runs from the mountain station of the Hahnenkammbahn lift down into the valley. Although this run may sound appealing to beginners, it is in fact a bypass for the World Cup descent, and, as a red-marked run, is not suitable for beginners – particularly when snow conditions are poor in the afternoon or at the end of the season. Beginners would also be best advised to avoid the slopes around Breitmoos, Zweitausender, Bärenbadkogel and Wurzhöhe.

Conclusion

Kitzbühel offers good options for beginners to learn skiing and snowboarding on a range of simple slopes. However, you should be prepared to take on more difficult sections, as the blue-marked slopes are not always directly accessible from lifts. If you are not yet feeling confident on skis or are trying out winter sports for the first time, you should perhaps think twice before visiting Kitzbühel. However, when you have achieved a basic level of proficiency in other ski areas, you should definitely keep the area in mind as a future destination.

The biggest offer for children and beginners is at the Valley station of the Hahnenkamm Railway.There are enough blue slopes on the Pengelstein and down to Kirchberg. Even on the way to the two thousand, you can find almost continuous blue slopes.

"Those who have not yet been skiing in Kitzbühel are not a good skier!" This motto should be kept in mind for beginners and in simpler ski areas only some skiing skills can be trained before comin... Read complete review